The Jerusalem Post reported that a poll conducted in January showed that “if elections were held today, the Likud party would win an unprecedentedly low 16 seats.” Since then, protests against Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have only grown.
As the Times of Israel reported, “Speech at a weekly rally in Tel Aviv demanding the return of hostages held in Gaza took on a more political tone than ever on Saturday night. , speakers accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of being apolitical, “driven by the fate of the hostages and personal considerations, leading Netanyahu to stall to avoid an investigation and an election.” Ronen Manelis, a reserve brigadier general and former Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson, said: “The discourse, leaks, manipulation, lack of leadership, and inability to make difficult decisions that have taken place in recent days have led some people to believe that… “It’s causing problems,” he reportedly said. Difficult questions about the state’s loss of commitment to its people. [about whether] Considerations other than this commitment influence decision-making, or lack thereof. ”
It will not be easy to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his more radical coalition partners, who have taken a stance denouncing President Biden, who remains popular with Israelis for his self-proclaimed pro-Zionist outlook and wartime support. As long as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition remains united, he will remain in power. The idea that he would voluntarily resign after October 7 has disappeared. Even the harsh rulings of the post-war commission of inquiry may not be able to oust him.
Aside from a vote of no confidence, there are only a handful of mechanisms to remove him from power. His corruption trial could result in a criminal verdict or a plea deal requiring his resignation. All military and intelligence leaders have resigned, leaving him in charge on October 7th, potentially making him the only person still in power. Alternatively, escalating public protests that culminated in a general strike could ultimately force him to resign.
Each has significant limitations. It is unlikely that anything will happen soon, and certainly not while the war continues. Moreover, even if everyone else in the national security apparatus resigns and a general strike goes ahead, there is no guarantee that Prime Minister Netanyahu will leave voluntarily or that his coalition will collapse. The progress of the long-delayed criminal trial remains uncertain.
The question remains, then, whether the United States will be able to expedite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s removal. Although the United States has an abysmal track record of overthrowing rival regimes through military force or covert coups, the Biden administration and Congress could accelerate Netanyahu’s departure by supporting Israeli domestic forces.
Cutting off aid to Israel is an insufficient means to achieve this result. Such actions would allow Prime Minister Netanyahu to play the victim and seek refuge with his far-right allies. But delays in aid delivery could prove that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s presence undermines the important relationship between Israel and the United States. NBC News recently reported that “weeks of appeals to civilian governments have not yielded the results the White House had hoped for, but…the U.S. does not believe that doing so would open a humanitarian corridor to Israel, etc.” “We are considering delaying or suspending deliveries in hopes of spurring action.” Provide further assistance to Palestinian civilians. ”
The report goes on to say, “This effort will help President Joe Biden and his national security team convince Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to dramatically change tactics in Gaza and minimize civilian casualties.” Officials said the move came weeks after they failed to persuade them to take further steps to curb the outbreak. This signals a potential shift in Biden’s approach, primarily by going beyond rhetorical pressure behind the scenes and making concrete policy changes aimed at forcing Israel to take action. ” If Netanyahu’s policies make it clear that this is necessary, it could further deepen the rift between him and his military commanders.
The Biden administration will also step up consultations with opposition figures, families of hostages, and protesters, elevating their voices (e.g., by participating in publicized meetings with them) and ensuring that the U.S. They may also emphasize that they fully support efforts to end the crisis. Obtain the return of hostages, prevent Israel’s “resettlement” of Gaza, and support regional peace efforts by Israel’s neighbors. And conversely, the regime could step up criticism of racist comments from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition partners and refuse to block a Security Council resolution condemning such comments.
Let me be clear: Israel is a democratic country. Ultimately, the people of Israel choose their leaders.. But at a time when Israelis have overwhelmingly expressed a desire for change, Biden should leave no doubt that we support them. He should be clear: The United States believes that Israel’s future security and peace in the region depend on deactivating Hamas (and detaining its patrons in Tehran) and finding an alternative to the corrupt Palestinian Authority government. , and yes, I believe it depends on regime change in Israel. Israel and the region benefit from a pro-democracy, flexible and pragmatic Israeli government that understands that perpetual war is unacceptable.